The business of being Kap: Big dollars in his future?

Forbes has a nice piece on 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, his endorsement potential and how his agents are handling it.

The bottom line, Shawn Smith of XAMSports told Forbes they're taking it slowly. There were opportunities to align with companies/products last year, but they passed because they didn't want to jeopardize any greater opportunities down the line. Sounds like coach Jim Harbaugh wasn't the only one who saw his potential.

Smith said XAM has been contacted by about 20 companies since Kaepernick's record-setting night in the 49ers' 45-31 win over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday (the victory got them into the NFC Championship game Sunday at Atlanta). Smith said they've turned down every one.

Kaepernick, who has a few small deals, including one with Nike, may have burst onto the scene, but he's still keeping a low profile off the field, which fits his personality. As Smith said in the Forbes story, he's all about football.

Any way you slice it, Kaepernick is headed for eight-digit status if he wants it. It's difficult to see him as comfortable as Aaron Rodgers (State Farm), Brett Favre (Wrangler) or Peyton Manning (Buick) as far as doing TV commercials. It just doesn't seem to be his style. But he could warm to it.

There are multiple reports that Favre and Manning have a net worth of more than $100 million. Rodgers is surely headed that way.

Kaepernick, whose off-field interests include Camp Taylor, a charitable organization for children who have heart disease (cool pics here), is under contract with the 49ers through 2014. He signed a four-year deal worth $5.2 million in July 2011, according to NFL.com.

If he keeps playing like he did Saturday, though, the 49ers might choose to restructure that deal prior to 2014. For comparative purposes, Rodgers' latest contract with the Packers is for six years and $65 million.

Since he started playing for the 49ers & played football at UNR I have become interested in football. I hope he stays a nice young man like he is now & that all the money & fame doesn't go to his head & corupt him.

About Dan Hinxman

Longtime RGJ Media reporter Dan Hinxman brings you authoritative and engaging stories on Wolf Pack athletics and other local sports stories. Find everything that doesn’t fit in his Wolf Pack sports blog here. Follow him on Twitter at @DanHinxmanRGJ.